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5 years in the past, there weren’t many good electrical automobile choices in the marketplace within the US. Right now, there are dozens. You now not have to purchase a Tesla to get an electrical automotive with good vary, really quick charging, and good tech and options at a good worth. You may even now get non-Tesla EVs which have entry to the huge, tremendous dependable, and straightforward to make use of Tesla Supercharger community. Nonetheless, one of many large benefits Tesla has retained, for my part, is a a lot superior navigation system for lengthy street journeys that features nice integration of charging stops. Till now.
Ford has labored with Google to supply one thing that sounds precisely like what Tesla has in its navigation system. Right here’s what Anthony Phillips, Product Supervisor at Ford, wrote yesterday in a LinkedIn publish:
“We’re rolling out a software program replace to Ford F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E electrical automobiles that allows EV routing for Google Maps by way of Android Auto, plus a few surprises.
“We first introduced at CES 2024 that this replace will present electrical automobile prospects with an estimated battery stage upon arrival at a vacation spot, recommend charging stops alongside the best way and even estimate how lengthy charging will take based mostly on reside data from the automobile.
“The replace additionally permits Android Auto prospects to view suitable Tesla Supercharger areas to cost at with an adapter, whereas driving in a Ford electrical automobile and utilizing Google Maps. This consists of enroute preconditioning of the battery when navigating to a DC quick charger and with the ability to see obtainable chargers alongside the route.
“Our workforce noticed a chance to supply prospects with an end-to-end EV routing expertise in Google Maps, and we’re proud to work with Google to make it occur. To expertise this firsthand, drivers who’ve obtained the Ford software program replace ought to obtain the most recent model of Google Maps to their smartphone and pull up the app in Android Auto.
“Particular because of all who have been concerned: Sena Hermiz, Dyuti Chakravarthy, Erik Biberstein, James Graham, Manu Paul, Surendar Gupta, Sandeep Kumar Shaw, Adam Diehm, and plenty of others!”
In fact, I’d have to check the system to see if this works in addition to Tesla’s system, however it’s the identical thought. All the things described above is how Tesla’s navigation system works, and it makes street journeys far simpler than even in a gas-powered automotive. I as soon as drove a Tesla Mannequin S from Poland to Paris, and it was the simplest lengthy street journey I’ve ever taken. We didn’t need to suppose or search for a spot to drag over and gas up in any respect. We simply needed to comply with the navigation, which introduced us to charging stations as wanted. We sometimes stayed a little bit longer than we have been imagined to (from the fundamentals of utilizing the lavatory, grabbing meals, getting espresso, stretching, and so on.), after which the automotive would simply modify the route as wanted to cost much less typically or to cost much less on the subsequent cease.
Anyway, it’s great the Ford F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E will now have an identical function. I think about it is going to assist many Ford drivers vastly, and also will assist to stimulate extra EV gross sales.
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